Overview:

Meet the Silent White Ghosts of the North. During this adventure you will have the opportunity to capture your own image of the Snowy Owl against a cool winter background of snow and ice. Explore, travel and photograph Ontario winter scenery. These cool temperatures bring out crisp blue sky backgrounds .  Use your skills and creativity to utilize cool tones, natural winter settings, evergreens, and snowflakes with your subject. Learn to adapt to lighting changes and techniques to get the best possible photograph.  We will take you on a journey to secret hideaways of these beauty’s allowing you to enjoy a profound experience of photographing the owl.  On this adventure you will leave with a true appreciation of these magnificent creatures. 

 

Itinerary:

Arrival Sunday at 1:00pm at the airport destination. 

Transport to hotel -check in. Monday- Thursday Meeting your workshop leader in the lobby at 7:30am ready to go for some action packed owl photography.  Late Thursday night or Friday flight departure. Airport shuttle to and from airport is included.  Friday check out from hotel and return to the airport. 

What is the difference between Toronto and Saskatoon Snowy Owls? Typically there are more males in Saskatoon compared to more females in Ontario. Males are mostly white while females have some black on their feathers.  

Key Learning:
Metering and exposing for different lighting and shooting conditions. Exposure for white subjects on white snow and blue sky backgrounds.
Searching and obtaining desirable backgrounds for your subjects.

Manual Mode- When, where and why.
Capture action images including flight shots. Proper techniques to consistently capture good flight images. Develop your bird-in-flight photography skills.

 

Recommended Equipment and Clothing:
We highly recommend bringing a lens that you are comfortable hand holding as most of the shooting is best done using this method.

Bring whichever camera body that you use, a backup is a good idea in the extreme cold.

Bring extra batteries as the cold drains them faster. Keep your extra batteries in your coat pocket with a hand warmer to keep them charged longer.

Lenses to bring include for hand holding include, 100-400, 80-400, 150-600, 200-500, etc.

The varied focal length ranges of these zoom lenses will make your image making more enjoyable.

Feel free to bring your 500 or 600mm lens if you are comfortable hand holding or shooting moving objects from a tripod (not recommended).

Digital cards, back up hard drive and laptop - internet at the hotel. 

Clothing and accessories:

The temperatures can be very cold while shooting the snowy owls and it is not uncommon to be faced with wind factors making it even colder. It is very important to be properly prepared with the right clothing as follows.

Warm under layers, merino wool is very good. A second layer of fleece or wool, top and bottoms.

An outer layer of down filled parka and pants. Temperatures can be from 5C to -20C . There will be a truck nearby where you can warm up should you get too cold. Buy the boots rated for the coldest climates you can find.  Here is a link to some good brands such as Cabelas and Baffin.

A balaclava is highly recommended to keep your face from the cold and wind.

Cold temperature gloves and or a mitten glove combo. 

Hand and toe warmers. These are the small packets that fit in pockets in the heat 3 gloves and in the end of your boots for toe warmth. Merino wool thin gloves and another pair of gloves or mittens to warm up your hands. 

A warm wool toque to use in conjunction with your hood on the parka.

Sunglasses, plastic or another material not to freeze in the cold. 

Please read the Refund Policy 

Do not book your flights until we have confirmed the owls have arrived.

Looking for another winter photo workshop? Try Wild Wolves or Polar Bear Mother and Cubs at the den. 

CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE SNOWY OWLS PHOTO WORKSHOP

“Thank you very much. I loved the owls and enjoyed the workshop leaders and meeting the other workshop participants. Apart from that I had a lovely time and have come away with lots of great photos.  It was wonderful to get so many shots of the male as well as the females.
Very best wishes to you.” Diane D.
 
"I was totally captivated by the Snowy Owls.  They are truly magnificent!  Their speed, their agility, their gracefulness and their beautiful markings.   I've just scratched the surface of the hundreds of images I took while on the workshop, but I can tell you taking the workshop was a thrilling and delightful experience for me.  Worth braving the elements to see the owls in their habitat!"  Anne W.

 

"We had a great experience and were very impressed. We have great photos as a result. Thanks again" Victor B.

 

" David, thank you very much for a wonderful trip, the instruction was phenomenal. The best I've ever had. I came away with amazing shots!" Evelyn.

 

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